38TH WARD STILL ALL IN THE FAMILY

John KassCHICAGO TRIBUNE

For the first time in almost 60 years, a Cullerton will not be sitting as an alderman in City Hall. Mayor Richard Daley on Monday appointed a Cullerton in-law to replace the late Ald. Thomas Cullerton (38th), who died last week after a long illness.

Daley named lawyer Thomas R. Allen to fill the post. The ward organization chose the late alderman's daughter, Patricia J. Cullerton, to serve as Democratic ward committeeman. Sources said the alderman's widow, Betty Cullerton, did not want the council post.

In naming Allen to the vacancy, Daley has appointed almost a quarter of the Chicago City Council himself. Since his election in 1989, the mayor has picked 12 aldermen to fill vacancies caused by death or by aldermen moving on to higher office.

Allen, a lawyer and former Cook County public defender, is a partner in the law firm of Chapekis, Marcus, Allen & Chapekis.

Allen, a member of the 38th Ward organization for the last 16 years, also served as the late alderman's legislative assistant.

Allen, who is married with four children, is expected to carry on the Cullerton tradition of not making a career out of ostentatious public speaking.

"I am confident that Thomas Allen will serve the people of the 38th Ward with distinction," Daley said. "He has a good sense of the concerns and issues that exist in this community."

The first Cullerton elected to the council, Edward "Foxy Ed" Cullerton, served for 48 years until his death in 1929. In 1935, P.J. "Parky" Cullerton was elected from the Northwest Side ward and served in the council until 1958, when he was elected Cook County assessor. Parky was succeeded by William "The Wisp" Cullerton, who died in 1973. It was then that his nephew, Thomas Cullerton, was installed.